Means for handling and mechanically ramming flasks



May 2l, 1929. J.,R. MCWANL;

MEANS FOR HANDLING AND MECHANICALLY RAMMING FLASKS Original Filed Dec. 12, 1924 ATTORNEY May 21, 1929 J. R. MCWANE 1,713,770

MEANS FOR HANDLING AND MECHANICALLY RAMMING FLASKS Origin=1 Filed Deo. l2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 -l-ul:

-llllll ArronNEY A *May 21, 1929. J. R. MCWANE MEANS FOR HANDLING AND MECHANICALLY RAMMING FLASKS ATTORNEY e INVENTO'R, 2 Chffzwef 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec. l2, 1924 WITNESSES L @19mm l May 2l, 1929. '.1. Fe. MCWANE 1,713,770

MEANS FOR HANDLING AND MECHANICALLY RAMMING FLASKS ATTORNEY mvENToR riginal Filed Dec. 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 resented may ai, ieee.

JAMES R. MCWANE, OF BIRMHIGHAM, ALABAMA., ASSIGNOR TO MWANE GAST IRON inane ,earner orticaN PIPE COMPANY, Ol? BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, A CORPORATIN OE AIABAMA.

MEANS FOR HANDXNG AND MECHANICALLY RAMMENG Application filed December 12,1924, Serial No.` 755,509. Renewed October 2, 1928.

rl`his invention relates to means for handling and mechanically ramming flasks for the manufacture of cast iron pipe or other analogous castings.

rlhe primary object is to provide means for easily and quickly handling the excessively heavy cope and dran; sections comprising the flashs used for this purpose, and to manipulate said sections in a manner to facilitate the mechanical ramming of sand therein and thus, by the elimination ojfall laborious, eX- pensive and time-consuming hand ramming operations, to increase production, produce moreV perfect output land materially decrease the cost of production. Y i

Another object is to provide means operable continuously along the entire length of a unit or section of the pipe foundry or other plant, said unit, which is known as a hay, being independent of other similar bays, and capable of handling the Copes and drags, by means of the improvement-s herein disclosed, receiving' the saine from pre-arranged longitudinal piles along the margins of the hay, automatically reciprocatingy them on molding' mach incs beneath the sand impelling head of sand slinging machine 'in a manner to receive the impelled sand uniformly throughout the length of the liaslr section, to

provide more perfect andinore durable sand molds therein around the patterns, and then facilitating the removalof the finished cope or drag' and the placement of the saine in position upon the lioorvof the hay, in closely adjacent relation to the ramming means, to receive the cores and be locked together ready for the pouring operation.

A'further object isto assemble the parts of the improved means for carrying out the above-mentioned steps of the operation, so as to economize space, and to obviate the neces# sity for hauling' the flash sections any apprecialale distance, the empty flask sections being arranged in piles along either side and close to the said'reciprocating means, there being' two of the latter, each having a molding machine in Vflanking' relation to a centrally disposed sand-slinpjng machine, which is ar# ranged to alternately operate on a cope or dragI section at one side or the other of the bay, the space between the reciprocating means and in advance ofthe sand slinger beine; utilized for storing a continuous heap of molding sand which is yautomatically taken vup and deposited in the flask sections, While the entire device is being slowly and continuously advanced, 'by mechanical means, into the sand heap, the nished flask sections being then removed from the molding machinos and placed transversely Vand immediately in rear of the travelling ramming means in the space being constantly provided by said advance movement, on the floor of the bay,`\vhich has been automatically cleaned of the sand, thus effecting a complete folloivup operation Without loss of time ,or waste of space. Y

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the followingl detailed description, taken `in connection `with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that While the drawings show Va practical form of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to strict conform ity With the showing` thereof, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

in the drawings, in Which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts `tlnfouo'hout the several fioures Figure l isa planvieiv of'a portion of a unit or bay7 in apipe or other foundry plant, the improved mechanical rammingg means being' shown inconnection therewith.`

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereohl ,Figure a plan view, drawn ona larger scale, of the right hand portion of the carriage for supporting' the molding` machine at one side of the hay, and showing` tho means for reciprocating' the same. i `lligure il is a similar View of the left hand portion thereof, with the moldingl machine indicated in outline thereon. Y

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of a portion of the. reciprocating means. i

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the subject matter of Figure 8.

Figure 5a is a similar matter of Figure 3a.

Figure 6 is a longitudinall sectional view illustrating theme'ans for reciprocating the molding machines.

Figure "is an' enlarged transverse ,sec tional view through the main carriage, with the rel` ciprocajting` molding4 machine thereon, and a flasl; section in' position and fully rammed.V Y

view of the subject vFigure Sis an end view ofthe molding ma chine, with parts omitted and sliowingt-he manner of attaching the operating `rams or pistons thereto.

in ramming ordinarily the custom in pipe foundries, it is necessary to have gangs of men, YgenerallyY four, te ram or pack the molding sand in and around the pattern with hand tools, and'in addition thereto, a number of shovelers are necessary to supply the sand. VThis resultsfin more or less confusion, the workmen being sometimes in each others way, and is slow, Venpensiveand laborious, oftenV resultingfin inferior molds, and such procedure also necessitates handling of the copes anddiagsr by overhead lifting means to carry tlie'sa-nie from the floor of the foundry to the molding Ina-` chine, and thence back to the pouring floor. 1 r

These Vdisadvantages are eliminated, in a great measure, by the employment of the herein-described improvements, which are primarilyy designed to be employed in connection withV the improvements shown and described in my pending application'for patent on a pipe foundry plant, filed May 12, 1,923,V Serial No. 638,689. Y n y AReferring tothe drawings there is shown, in Figure 1,a portion of a pipe foundry unit Vor hay, as dened between the upright I- beamsor posts l, which serve to support the roof. As shown in the said pending application, pairs of spaced rails 2 are properly set in the floor at a distance from the uprights to permit of the stacking of anuinber of copes or drags 3 therebetween, the said stacks consisting preferably of a plurality of all copes Y on one side of the bay, and alldrags on the other side, a space beingleft between the longitudinally disposed stacks for the passage of a workman. vThe flasks 3 may be of any desired type, but preferably of that type shown in the above-mentioned application l multipleflipped ladle.

and adapted to be used in connection with my Thetracks which extend from end to end v of the bay are spaced apart asuifici'entV distance to allow Vthe rammed flasks tov be placed transversely therebetween, as indicated at 3b,

.forthe purpose of receiving the molten metal' from the aforesaid ladle, and in order to supy port the said flasks, longitudinal sills 4, whidh may be formed of suitable wood, to avoid jarring the Vflasks when lowered, arefsuitably seated onthe flooradjacent to the rails and ext-end from end to end of the bay, the said sills receiving and'supporting theA fiask'sadjacent to their ends. Y Y ,p K y VContinuous metalra'ckV bars 5` arealso suitably seated onthe floor adjacentvto the sills, the'upper faces offtl'ielatter being somewhat higher than the teeth oft-he racks, so that the latter will notcontact with the finished flasks. The racks are spaced apart a considerable distance for the reception of a continuous heap flask sections byrhand, as is Vwill be applied to each.

iyriav'ye y 5al of molding sand, which has been properly treated to forni a wet sand mold in accordance with the accepted method of making the same.

The tracks Zat either side of the hay are adapted to carry identical combinations of mechanisms, and the saine reference numerals Mounted on each track 2 is a relatively long carriage G, which may be formed of suitable angle irons or in any other desiredrmanner, the showing of the lcarriages 6, as well as some other parts in Figure l, being only in outline for the purpose of avoiding confusion.

Mounted on eachcarriage 6 is `a lmolding machine [,which is of substantially the same length as the flask sections' and slightly less than one-half the lengthk of the supporting carriage 6 beneath, so that the said molding machines together with the flask sections may be readily reciprocated, by means to be later described, their full lengths upon said car! riages, while the latter are, in turn, being slowly and continuously advanced along the: tracks 2 byineans also to be described.

A VVsand impelling machine 8 `of a well known type and commonly known as asand slinger is varraiiiged transversely betweenthe spaced, parallelrcarriages 6, andiis rigidly secured to the latter by means of spacer blocks' 9, which cause the'said carriages and the sand slinging machine to nieve together along the tracks 2, Ythe said machine being supported thereby in bridging relation to the space between theraoks 5. n. y

A poweiyunit indicated at l is carried by the sand slinging'inachine, and includes a suitable motor for-operating suitable gears confined Vin housings ll, and having meshing ingriddle' lhwhere itis screened, the sifted carded part is passed through a. chute 1G. From the chute l the good sand falls-into a hopper'l, thence to a conveyor l8whic`h isV carried by Va swingable arm 1 9, to a terminal head 20, which houses sand-impelling in'eans driven atua highrateof speed and capable of Y impelling the sand inathin'streani and at slinger includes suitable, oppo- Y sand falling upon a chute l5, while the dis-V high velocity in, afdownward direction to be e directed where 4wanted by thehla'nd 'of-*the 4 operator graspingV han die 17S?. rEhe flexibihV ity of the arm landthe connected parts, rpei1` ,mits the said head2() tobe moved backwardly or forwardly towards the 'center ofthe sand slinger, or of being` swung entirely acrosstoY 46 with collars 4-9 adaptedto be engaged by the lever d-for shifting the rod 43 in either direction to manually effect the control valve in the same manner as the aforesaid automatically acting parts 41 and 42. l c, Y

ln order to effect control oi' the speed regulating valve 38 Without the necessity ot the operatorleaving his position at the head of the sand slinging machine', an inclined shaft is provided, having its front end mounted in a bearing 5l of an upright support 52, and having secured'thereto arhand unieel 53 for turning the shaft. vThe rear end of the latter is mountedin a bearing forming part ot a housing` larranged above the valve 38, andv provided on its terminal with a beveled gear 55, which is in mesh with' a similar gear mounted on the extendedl end of the stein 57 i of the valve 38.' By turning the'hand Wheel 53, the valve may be opened more or less from a remote point, and local `variation ot the speed of the reciprocating molding machine may be obtained to vary the hardness of the ramming of the sand Within the ilasksection,V

mounted on the machine. Y. The Vthinner t-he layer of sand applied by the sand slinging` machine, as produced by a asterpassageof the ask'section on the molding machine beneath the impelling head, and

` the more passages thus requiredlto produce the required filling, the harder the resultant packing orramming `oil' the sand Within the Vflasksection.V This harder packing is desirable and necessary at the bell and spigot ends of the mold torcarry the `Weight of the core, While the intermediatefportions of the mold may receive a Vsofter iamming of the sand, Which may 'befreadilyvobtained by a slower passage of the 'liask sectionbeneath the head of' the sandslinger. Such required variation oit speed may vbeeasily controlled by regulating the volume of tluid allowedto pass through thespeed regulating valve 38 the hand wheel 53. 4During theipassages ot the passage in onezdirection of the'tlask With the head depositing all the sand along one side of the pattern, and to shift the headl `for the entirereverseV movement, and soon until the ilask section is completely rammed. n f

-From the foregoing it Will be seen,espe

' cially by thosezskilled in the `art ot casting.

large bodies such as pipe orotherrelongated castings on a commercial scalevvhere econ! omy of space isa mostimportant consideration, Vand vvherel rapidity and completeness o thel cycle of operation is necessary,;that the. means herein Vshown, and described havebeenV designed for the accomplishment of these purposes, and to erlect the mechanical ramming of cope and drag sect-ions of pipe mold-.fv

' gangs of hand rammers and shovelers. The

complete operations of ramming all the flasks vin a `given bay oit the foundry are accom- Y plished by asteady advanceoi` the combined machines, starting at one end thereotand Working along to the opposite end, While receiving the `sections from the longitudinal Y piles at either side lof the bay, reciprocating the same Vbeneath the ythin spray ot' sand driven at high velocity into the innermost recesses oit the iask and around thepattern the spray being readily guided and directed at the will of the operator. The heap of sand when removed Vfrom the floor oi: the bay'provides space at the rear'oif the travelling inachine, after which` the linished or rammed sections are lifted from the latter andy placed transversely upon the ioor of the bay immediately in rear of the machine. rllhis'results in the greatest saving 'of time, labor and eX- r pense in the production of this class of castings. Y e

Tvl/'hatis claimed is l. ln combination, a carriage, a molding machine mounted on the carriage andniov- Y `able longitudinally with reference thereto,

means for longitudinally reciprocating the molding machine alongthe carriage, a sand slinging device arranged at one side ot and connected to the carriage,said sand'slingingcevice embodying means to cause the carriage to'travel forwardly withv said sand slinging device, the molding machine being independently reciprocatedbeneath the discharge means of the sand slinging device.

2.. In` combination, spaced carriages, a

molding machine mounted on each carriage and movableV longitudinally With reference thereto, means for longitudinally reciprocating the molding machine along each carriage, a sand slinging device arranged between said carriages and connected thereto, said lsand slinging device embodying means to cause the carriages to travel l'orivaidly Vwith said sand slingiiig device, the molding machines being independently reciprocated beneath the dis Vcharge means of the sand slinging device. Y 3. Armolding machine having a flask sec tion thereon, a sand slingingdevice arranged at oneside of the moldingv machine and adapted to impel sand into, the Haslnmeans tor lonV fgitudinally reciprocating vthe molding'machine beneath Athe head ofthe sand slinging device to cause aunitorin deposit oit the sand Within the -flask'sectiom and means `for varying the speed of reciprocation otsaid molding machine to vary the degree ot hardness of the ramming of' the sand.Y

l. Av molding machine mountedon tracks and adapted to receivea flask section, a sand slinging device yarrangedat oneside of the tracks and havingmeans for'. impelling sand into the flask section,` means Vior reciprocating the molding machine longitudinally beneath the head oi the sand s lingmg device, and means tor causing the latter and the molding machine to advance together.

5. Spaced molding machines mounted parallel to each other for reciprocating motion, a. sand slinging device arranged between the molding machines and having a swingable head provided vith sand impelling moans adapted to be moved over either of the molding machines,` molding flasks re movably mounted on the molding machines, means Jfor independently reciprocating either or both ol the molding machines, and means for causing the molding machines and sand slinging device to advance simultaneously.

6. ln apparatus oit the character described, means to mechanically ramming` lesks cemprising spaced pairs ot parallel tracks, the space between said tracks providing for the reception of a sand heap, opposite carriages mounted to move along the tracks, a sand slinging device arranged between the car riages, a molding machine mounted on each olf the carriages, a tlask section ilemovably mounted on each moldin machine, `means for independently reciprocating the molding machine together With the ilask section in a longitudinal direction thereon, means to cause the sand slinging device together with the carriages and parts carried thereby to move slowly for-Ward into the sand heap, and a svvingable arm carried by the sand slinger and provided with a sand impelling head to impe] the sand into one or the other of the lask sections.

7. Means for mechanically ramming asks, comprising spaced pairs of parallel tracks between Which is placed a continuous heap of sand, carriages mounted to move along the tracks, a sand slinging device arranged between and connected to the carriages, longitudinal racks located between the pairs of tracks, gears carried and rotated by the sand slinging device and` meshing` With the racks to cause the sand slinging device and carriages to advance together towards the sand heap, molding machines mounted to be longitudinally reciprocated along the carriages and adapted to receive a flask, and means carried by the carriages and connected to the moldingl machines to independently recipro cate the same beneath the sand impelling head of the sand slinging device.

8. A flask ramming machine comprising opposite carriages adapted to move in unison along longitudinal tracks, a transversely-disposed sand slinging device carried by the carriages and having means for picking up sand from a pile and impelling the same through a movable head sivingable over one carriage or the other, molding machines each having a ask section thereon and mounted to reciprocate its full length on the carriage, means carried by the latter for reciprocating the molding machines While the sand is being impelled into the flask, and means for propelling the sand slinging device, the carriages, molding machines and flasks slovvly towards the continuous heap oi sand to consume the same.

9. Means for mechanically ramming flask sections comprising spaced, parallel molding machines adapted to removably receive and hold either a drag or a cope section of a flask, and mounted for independent longitudinal. reciprocation, carriages mounted to roll beneath and to support said molding machines, sand slinging mechanism arranged between and connected to the carriages and adapted to move therewith along the floor of the foundry, said mechanism including means for propelling the carriages in unison, for picking up sand between the same and for impelling said sand into either the drag or the cope section of the flasks at one side or the other, and means mountedon the carriages for independently reciprocating the molding machines a distance equa-l te their oivn lengths for uniformly receiving the impelled sand.

l0. Means tor mechanically ramming cope or drag sections or" pipe molding flasks, comprising a molding machine adapted to receive the flask sections, a longitudinal carriage mounted on tracks and arranged beneath and adapted to support the molding machine, lluid compressing means carried by the carriagea cylinder rigidly mounted on the carriage m connection with the compressor, and

a piston mounted in the cylinder 'and connected to the molding machine tor independ ently reciprocating the latter along the carriage.

ll. Means for mechanically ramming cope or drag sections of pipe molding flasks, compri sing a molding machine adapted to receive the flask sections, a longitudinal carriage mounted on tracks and arranged beneath and adapted to support the molding machine, fluid compressing means carried by the carriage, a cylinder rigidly mounted on the carriage in connection With the compressor, a piston mounted in the cylinder and connected to the molding machine for independently reciprocating the latter along the carriage, and a transversely disposed sand slinging device connected to the carriage and having means for automatically advancing itself together with the carriage to pick up sand from a pile and to impel the same into the flask section.

l2. Means 'for the mechanical ramming ot flask sections, comprising a carriage having Wheels adapted to move along rails, a sand slinging device arranged at one side ot the carriage, a fluid compressor mounted on the carriage, a pair oi oppositely disposed cylinders mounted on the carriage and in connection with the compressor, a flask-receiving molding machine mounted on the carriage and having Wheels adapted to permit independent reeiprocation thereof, pistons mountllO ed inthe cylinders and having their exposed ends connected to opposite ends of the molding machine, and means for automatically injecting fluid under pressure alternatel'yinto the cylinders to effecta-regular reciprocation lof the molding machine beneath the impelling head of the sand, slinging device. l

13. Means for the mechanical ran'nning of flask sections comprising a carriage, oppositely disposed hydraulic cylinders carried by the carriage and arranged longitudinally CTI thereon, a supplemental car connected to the carriage and having a power unit and a fluid compressor thereon and Vhaving connection with said cylinders, a molding .machine adaptedto receive flask sections and mounted to ref ciprocate longitudinally on the carriage, op-

positely moving and alternately actuated pistons mounted in the cylinders and connected at their free ends to the molding machine to cause its reciprocation, valve mechanism automatically actuated bythe movements of the molding machine to control the alternate actuation of the pistons, and a sand slinging devicehavino' a sand im ellinO head to throvvY C3 b i be self-propelled along said racks, means for connecting the carriages to the sand slinging device to cause the same to travel therewith, said carriages being longer than `the molding' machines to permit the latter to be longitudinally reciprocated thereon, cylinders oppositely disposed on sind-carriages, pistons mounted to be hydraulically actuated in thev cylinders and having their outer ends connected to opposite ends of the molding machines to cause reciprocation thereof.

v 15. Mechanism for themechanical ramring of flask sections, Vcomprising a sand slinging device, a carriage movable on tracks at one side of said sand slingingde'vice, a

molding machine carried by the carriage, and 'l mechanism for progressively ,moving the molding machine beneath the outlet of said sand slinging device and for varying the movement to modify the degree of hardness of the ramming, v Y

16. Mechanism for the mechanical ramming of flask sections,;compr-ising a sand slinging device, a carriage movable on tracks atfone side of said device, 'said carriage being provided with tracks at the top, a'moldl ing machine provided ivithwlieels mounted on the tracks of the carriage, and means carried by the carriage and connected With said molding machine for mechanically moving said `molding machine on the carriage independent of the movementof the latterl In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiiXed my signature.

JAMES n. MWANE. 

